My favorite way is by making about 4 different saves maybe a few minutes apart...then just saving on the earliest save number. For instance, I have save #1 at 1:00, Save #2 at 3:00, save #3 at 5:00, and save #4 at 8:00. Then, I just get save #5 in the save #1 slot, and go from there. This way, I can go back further, if I really screw up. Currently, my Oblivion game has around 430 something saves....but only 4 slots used. This is the exact same way I will save games for Skyrim. Makes me wonder...how many save spots are there to use in total? And what is the largest integer that the game can use as a save number?

I don't see why this needs to be in Skyrim General Discussion, since it's not like it's about how the saving system should work in Skyrim, or even a subject that only applies to Skyrim.

But in any case, the method I'm currently using for Oblivion is to have at least three manual save slots in use at any given time, one I use when saving in interiors, one I use for wilderness locations, and one is for in walled cities, I've also used that one for Oblivion gates. I also regularly make streamsaves using the Streamline mod, primarily as a substitute for quick saves. Since the mod keeps multiple save files (15 by default, though I'm pretty sure you can change it using the mod's customization options if you so choose.) and cycles between them before overwriting older ones, this means that I have many older saves to go back to if I mess up or some sort of horrible bug breaks my save.

I remember back in the early years of playing Oblivion...sometimes I would use only one save slot, and then end up in an unwinnable situation...and would have to start the game all over. That no longer happens and will never happen with Skyrim.

I allways save in a different slot. When the number gets too high I backup some saves and delete the rest and change the number of the last one to 1, being that the only one left in the directory. It's the system I will use in Skyrim, unless it's advised otherwise.

It is interesting to hear everone else's method.

One in a town, one before entering a dungeon, any more and I'd feel like I had OCD.

Perhaps 65535, which I believe is max for a short int.
I save the same way as you, but I don't believe there should be a limitation on save slots. Obviously, there will be limits on a console, but on a PC you could have as many saves as you have storage space for.

I have well over 100 saves for Oblivion. I make a new save when I've played for a long time or if I feel I've hit a milestone.

I hate the Quiksave feature. I dont want to be able to just save before a fight and then run in without even have to think fist (i can just scout the area and then load to base my strategy on my cheated intel). I want to be afraid when entering a dungeon. The game should Autosave when entering a dungeon or in a safe place like a town. Also you shouldnt die everytime you got defeated, maybe get a second chance to run for it as your enemy gets distracted just as hes about to finnish you. There are thousands of good ways to do this, but implementing quicksave is not one of them.

The main reason I find to save is not bad decisions or posible death but the posibility of a CTD. This way I save frecuently just in case.

I'm not in favor of Oblivion's way of when you die, you're only given the option to reload a past save or autosave. I think when you die in Skyrim, you should just spawn somewhere in the map, at the least. It's much more of a friendly and fun way, to me.

Lately, I have been saving...and then a CTD happens right after. Talk about having 9 lives!

Yeah, I keep a few slots open that I rotate through through-out the session and I also keep at least one save from each session around for a while incase I REALLY screw up.

Learned that one the hardway.

I personally save after finishing quests or after I travel into a city after a long journey. The only thing I'd like to see concerning saves at this point is not letting them get so freakin' corrupted. Lost so many playthroughs even via backup because of the buggy save system.

I would just like different save slots for different characters.

Just to keep things organized and better chance of not saving over another save.......DOH!

To say the truth I wouldn't like this system in a TES game. Of course it would be very valuable for modding purposes, but I really don't like it.

Yeah...it would be very helpful if you could have the name of the character LISTED. HINT HINT BETHESDA....

Well because of the buggy save system I just saved via the console. Less crashes, less corruption, and you could actually name them accordingly.

I save in the same way only i rotate on 3 saves. I tend to quicksave every 30 to 60 seconds and do proper menu saves every 5-10 minutes usually after finishing a quest, dungeon or some major event. I used to only use 2 saves however i've since increased it for better protection and backtracking i may end up using 4 later down the line but i don't see too much need.

For skyrim i'd like to see profiles like mass effect. Each character is a profile which contains your saves. You cannot access other profile saves unless you exit to the menu. It's an excellent system that makes it impossible to save over another characters save by acciedent.

To clarify what I said earlier in this topic, I'd like there to be multiple options for when you die. One option could be to reload a past save or reload an autosave like Oblivion's format, but another option would be to have it where the character is spawned somewhere on the map. This would be exactly like Just Cause 2, which allows a more friendly and fun way to me. But if someone wants to reload their last save or an autosave the option would be there, for if spawning somewhere on the landscape would break their role-playing feeling. There could be additional options as well.

First one just before the last chance to edit your character and finishing the tutorial and then one before every important action and at certain intervals. So if I discover a certain choice in yesterday's play session screwed up things I want to do today, I just revert to the earlier save and make the other choice. Also to avoid losing all progress because of CTD's. :rolleyes: :pinch: :ermm: :dry:

I probably use about 20-30 saves per character and save every 5 minutes or so. Mostly because I have a tendency to get CTD's at inopportune moments.

I'm hoping each character will get it's own save slots, like in Mass Effect.

As long as there are manual saves anywhere and at least 3 save slots, I could care less what other save options there are or how reloads work.

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ideas.